My Status

[FJmonkey]

Wow!! You look ready for a Rally, I hope you feel as well as you look in the picture. Awesome dude, I need to drink a few beer's with you and swap stories (BS and lies). Keep up the healing and the good work you and your family are doing for the needy... 

[Thmsdoyle]

Glad you are on your feet, and healing well. Take care of yourself!

[Lotsokids]

Make sure you let us know when you will be in the states long enough to attend a rally, so we can hear all those crazy Hungarian stories!

We wouldn't have that much time. Ha ha.

Thanks for the comments, everyone! I've got my sights on riding my FJ as soon as possible. But with a little swelling still at the left jaw, I don't know if my helmet will fit. ICON helmets are very narrow.

[BSI]

It's very good to see you doing better Mark and I hope your helmet fits soon!....Best wishes to you & your family, I'm sure it's been hard on them...and yes, we need more Hungarian stories! LOL

[Lotsokids]

Returned from Mayo last night. Left at 3:00 AM and returned at 8:00 PM. No quick check-up yesterday! Much discussion with my surgeon, then I went to see a prosthodontist about my teeth. THEY PULLED 3 MORE TEETH YESTERDAY. They were in bad shape from the accident and were not going to make it. One had a broken root and the other two were damaged near the base and very loose. I have now lost 11 teeth. When I return in August, they will remove 2 more teeth and make a temporary "fake teeth set" and anchor it into bases in the jaw (leg) bone. A permanent set will be installed in Nov. or Dec.

What a long road. I think a complete head transplant would have been easier!

FLYING HOME TOMORROW!!!

[rktmanfj]

I have now lost 11 teeth.

And to think I thought I had it bad when I only broke 11 teeth in an accident.

Kind of puts things into a different perspective.

Glad to see you're getting the care that you needed.   

[FJmonkey]

Perhaps a small caveat but after all that pain and suffering at least you can avoid the potential of a tooth ache....

[Lotsokids]

Well, bad news today. The Hungarian Central Investigation Office found ME at fault for my accident.

1. I disregarded the signal to stop (Rainy day, a guy in camouflage waving his hands). In their own testimony, they said I did not slow down or turn. In my testimony, I mentioned that is a good indication that I did not see him!

2. I disregarded the speed limit of 30 km/h. Truth is, they determined that I was going 47-48 km/h, and I have proof that this was a 50 km/h zone... now changed to 30 after my accident. I was in charge of training, and I have a copy of the original training material that proves this.

I have 8 days to appeal. [sliding the boxing gloves on] Originally there were criminal charges against the two guys opening the door with the cable across the road. They dropped all those charges, which is fine with me. I don't believe they were trying to kill me. But they shouldn't say It's MY fault. It seems they are shifting the blame to dodge any liability. The letter I received today made it seem that I intentionally drove my car into the cable. They said the cable, although unmarked, could be clearly seen, I disregarded commands to stop, and sped recklessly and somewhat intentionally into the cable and nearly decapitated myself.

They also mentioned that my engine was changed "with permission" that was capable of reaching 135 km/h. And my tires were not OEM size, changed "without permission" which were slightly wider than stock. How does any of this relate to my accident?

There is an international lawyer involved from my company (Boeing) that I will be talking to tomorrow.

Unbelievable.

[FJmonkey]

WTF? What would have happened if you had After Market toilet paper in your trunk? A perfect example of adding insult to injury. I hope the lawyer can straighten them out.

[tmkaos]

Sounds like you are getting the short end of the stick, mate.

I call bullshit on the cable being clearly visible. A what, 25mm, 1 inch diameter grey steel cable, unreflective due to rain and overcast conditions, against a background of wet, grey concrete or tarmac? I challenge anybody to pick that up, when your visual focus would have been at the road surface, several hundred meters to your front, relying on your peripheral vision to spot hazards coming from the sides. Human vision is attracted to movement, a static, invisible cable outside of your threat detection zone would have been impossible to spot. Also the cable was obviously at head height. Relative to your position as you drove towards it, there would be no appreciable movement of the cable, as if you are on a collision course with an object it's relative bearing towards you stays fixed.

If I can pick up holes in their statements this easily using school physics then I'm sure a professional lawyer won't have an issue destroying their case. Good luck, I'll be waiting to hear results with interest.
Cheers,

James

[rktmanfj]

Sounds like you are getting the short end of the stick, mate.

I call bullshit on the cable being clearly visible. A what, 25mm, 1 inch diameter grey steel cable, unreflective due to rain and overcast conditions, against a background of wet, grey concrete or tarmac? I challenge anybody to pick that up, when your visual focus would have been at the road surface, several hundred meters to your front, relying on your peripheral vision to spot hazards coming from the sides. Human vision is attracted to movement, a static, invisible cable outside of your threat detection zone would have been impossible to spot. Also the cable was obviously at head height. Relative to your position as you drove towards it, there would be no appreciable movement of the cable, as if you are on a collision course with an object it's relative bearing towards you stays fixed.

If I can pick up holes in their statements this easily using school physics then I'm sure a professional lawyer won't have an issue destroying their case. Good luck, I'll be waiting to hear results with interest.
Cheers,

James

Having driven many miles on airfields, I can say that in 10 years, I never saw anything like that.

[markmartin]

It seems they are shifting the blame to dodge any liability.

And changing facts.

Good luck Mark.

[Lotsokids]

Thought I would dig this up and add some updates.
I am in the U.S. now on my way back to the Mayo Clinic for my FINAL procedures. They will be correcting a bald spot on the back of my head caused by a bedsore in Hungary (6 days in a coma, in one position. No pillow, just a folded blanket). They will also be installing upper fake teeth (prostheses).

Then ALL of my medical procedures will be complete.

On the legal side... the Hungarian prosecutor responded to my appeal. Denied. But this time he said they did not find me at fault. But it clearly says this in the original document. Since I now have a document that says I am NOT at fault, I have decided to let this die. Besides, this was a criminal case against the two guys operating the cable I hit. It was an accident, and I totally understand this. I honestly don't want these guys severely punished. Lessons have been learned and changes have been made to ensure this doesn't happen again. My insurance is paying 100% of the nearly $200,000 repair to my head.

Overall... I'm thankful.

[movenon]

Given the situation it's probably the best outcome.  At some point you have to focus on going forward.  Not that things are fair or right.  I am glad that you are here and well to enjoy your family and life. 

Your legal situation over there is not unique.  We are living with one caused by a hospital right here in the U.S.. People that say "I would sue them", I believe watch to much TV and have never been down that road themselves.  I am not talking about small claims issues.  When big dollars are involved it's amazing what happens. 

Again I am glad your here with us and your family. Glad that your insurance has taken care of you. And keep looking forward Mark there is a lot to enjoy in life. 
George 

[FJmonkey]

Now that you have a $200K head, I can't wait to see what kind helmet you are gonna buy. You know... $10 head, $10 helmet... 

This one seems quite pricey - http://blog.leatherup.com/2010/07/06/the-most-expensive-motorcycle-helmet-in-the-world/

This is quite unique -

And some other fun stuff (scroll down) - http://mohinhclub.vn/threads/nhung-chiec-mu-bao-hiem-doc-dao.591/